Most of the players highlighted in this article will not be All-Big Ten selections. None of them lead their team in scoring. Many do not even make the daily player updates that we post on our site. But all seven of the following players are averaging double figure points during conference play and can be relied upon on a nightly basis to contribute to their respective teams. These players are considered "sneaky" scoring options in the fantasy sports world, because they all are capable of big scoring games but usually score in the low double figure range. All of these players are consistent, and most are considered their team's third scoring option. I believe they can all be considered "glue guys" for their team as well, because they do the little things for their teams but do not always get the same recognition as the big time players. Some are guards while others are forwards, but each of them are safe options to have on your fantasy team because you know what to expect from them every game.
Zack Novak, Forward, Michigan
Novak has a scoring average of 11.3 points during Big Ten play. Around the Big Ten, Novak is known as a hard-nosed defender and great rebounder for his size. After all, Novak is only 6-foot-4 and often plays power forward for the Wolverines. Novak has scored in the nine- to 16-point range in all but one of his seven Big Ten games so far. It is harder to get much more consistent than that. Although defensively Novak guards bigger players, most of his offensive game comes from the outside. He is shooting 18-for-37 from behind the arc during Big Ten play, much better than his 36.8% on the entire season. He is also shooting 83% from the free throw line. Although Novak has played well, Michigan as a team has not. They are 1-6 in the Big Ten and three of their next four games are on the road: at Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State. Don't expect any 25-point efforts out of Novak, but definitely count on him to get you double digits consistently.
Jordan Hulls, Guard, Indiana
Hulls has a scoring average of 11.9 points during Big Ten play. Up until Sunday's loss to Iowa, Hulls had scored in double figures in all of Indiana's Big Ten games. Hulls is a great three point shooter, shooting 49% on the season and 13-for-29 in Big Ten play. Like Novak, he is a good free throw shooter, shooting 86% from the line on the season. Hulls will not get you any 30-point games like teammate Christian Watford did on Sunday, but Hulls will be much more consistent than Watford. And now that fellow guards Verdell Jones III and Maurice Creek are not playing, Indiana's once deep backcourt becomes very thin. Hulls struggled against Iowa, shooting 1-for-8, but I do not expect this to become the norm for him. At 1-6 as well, Indiana's road gets extremely tough. Their next three games are against Illinois, Michigan State, and Minnesota, so losing Jones could not have happened at a worse time. Nonetheless, expect on Hulls to continue his sharp three-point shooting.
Keaton Nankivil, Forward, Wisconsin
Nankivil has a scoring average of 13.0 points during Big Ten play. While Nankivil is not part of the Jordan Taylor-Jon Leuer duo that gets so much praise, and deservedly so, Nankivil is vital to the Badger's success. Nankivil has ranged from scoring nine to 17 points in his seven Big Ten games. At 6-foot-8 tall and 240 pounds, the senior has turned into quite the outside shooter. He is 18-for-33 from behind the three-point line during Big Ten play and 49% on the season. He also is a great free throw shooter, at 88% on the season. Nankivil's strength is that he can score both on the inside and outside. Wisconsin is currently 5-2 in the Big Ten and could use a road win this upcoming Saturday against a Penn State, a team that beat both the likes of Michigan State and Illinois during the same week. These also happen to be the two teams that Wisconsin has lost to in conference play. With so much of other teams focus on stopping forward Leuer, Nankivil is often an afterthought and boy does he make teams pay for it.
David Jackson, Guard, Penn State
Jackson has a scoring average of 12.7 points during Big Ten play. The Nittany Lion shooting guard is 15-for-33 behind the three point line in Big Ten play and is shooting 87% from the free throw line. Jackson hit a three-pointer in the final minute against Purdue to give Penn State a one-point lead, only to have JaJuan Johnson answer with a game winning shot with three seconds left. Jackson has started since midway through his freshman season and is a part of a senior heavy team that is hungry to get to their first NCAA Tournament, especially after being snubbed two years ago. Penn State is 3-4 in Big Ten play, with all four losses within seven points. While Jackson does not get the recognition of Talor Battle, or even Jeff Brooks, he is a vital key if this team plans on getting over the hump and making the Big Dance. While Jackson is known as a shooter, he is also very capable of putting the ball on the floor and finding ways to score for himself. Expect Jackson to have continued success scoring, especially when teams focus on Battle and leave Jackson open.
Lewis Jackson, Guard, Purdue
Jackson has a scoring average of 10.4 points during Big Ten play. While getting off to a slow start scoring in Big Ten play, Jackson has definitely stepped his game up of recent. On ESPN's College Gameday Saturday night, Jackson scored 19 points. He was making it look easy, blowing by defenders and using his quickness. At a generous 5-foot-9, he is about as sneaky as they come. With the topic of this article being sneaky scorers, Jackson was the first player I had in mind. Jackson is not a three-point shooter, or even much of a jump shooter at all. Rather, he gets JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore involved and gets his baskets as they come. He does not force any shots and has not taken double digit shots in any game this season. Jackson only averaged 4.9 points in nonconference play, but has definitely turned on the jets since playing tougher competition. He is trying to fill the void of Purdue's third scorer, which was opened when Robbie Hummel went down with a season-ending injury back in October. So far in Big Ten play, Jackson has done a great job. The only thing that may stop Jackson from consistent scoring is playing teams that have bigger guards to defend him. Nonetheless, someone has to be Purdue's third scorer, and Jackson is the definitely the best option at this point in time.
Michael Thompson, Guard, Northwestern
Thompson has a scoring average of 13.6 points during Big Ten play. Unlike the first five players mentioned above that are their teams third leading scorer, Thompson is the Wildcats second leading scorer. Like Jackson, Thompson is short in stature at 5-foot-10. I consider Thompson to be the toughest player in the conference. He led the Big Ten in minutes played as a true freshman three years ago, averaging 35.5 minutes. He is at that exact same average this season. Although Thompson is the Wildcats floor general and point guard in their Princeton offense, he finds plenty of ways to score as well. He had reached double figures in all of Northwestern's conference games up until Sunday's loss to Wisconsin. He has especially had to pick up the slack since John Shurna was injured in a Dec. 23game against Mount St. Mary's. And even with Shurna playing better and looking healthier recently, Northwestern lacks a consistent third scorer. Drew Crawford averages 12.8 points per game but struggles on the road and was even held scoreless in Sunday's game. Don't get me wrong though, Crawford and Shurna are capable of putting up big numbers. Crawford scored 35 points against North Carolina A&T last year as a freshman. And Shurna was one point away from leading the Big Ten in scoring last season behind Evan Turner. If the three of them can play consistently together, I think they still have a shot at the NCAA Tournament. They are currently 3-5 in conference and need a signature win during their upcoming stretch of games with Minnesota, Ohio State, and Illinois. Unlike Shurna and Crawford, this is Thompson's last chance to be a part of Northwestern's first ever NCAA Tournament team. I believe that the senior guard will pull it together and continue to put up double figure scoring numbers every game.
Jereme Richmond, Forward, Illinois
Richmond has a scoring average of 10.0 points during Big Ten play. Still, Richmond happens to be the Fighting Illini's sixth leading scorer and comes off of their bench. Richmond is unlike any other player on the Illini though, as he can basically play any position on the floor. For example, during Saturday's loss to Ohio State, Richmond scored many of his baskets off of layups while battling the boards with Jared Sullinger. At other times in the game, the freshman brought the ball up the court as the point guard, especially when Demetri McCamey was out of the game. He also got his first career double-double Saturday. This was just one week after Richmond did not play in Illinois' 76-66 loss at Wisconsin because of missing a practice earlier that week. He made up for it though by scoring 14 points against Michigan State, followed by 18 against Ohio State. With D.J. Richardson in a slump currently, Illinois needs Richmond to continue to step it up even if it means coming off of the bench. The Illini are 4-3 in conference and have three of their next four games on the road, but they lack a signature road win this season. Richmond also had scoring games of two and three in Big Ten play so far, so it is hard for me to be completely confident in him. But after seeing his last two games in person, I can tell you that he has all of the tools to be a great player at the collegiate level and may one day be playing in the NBA.